Clive Nolan has for
20 years been one of the leading lights in symphonic prog through being
the regular keyboards player with major bands including Pendragon,
Arena, Shadowland and
Caamora. In 2005, he added to his impressive canon of work by
composing his first musical She which
was subsequently staged in Holland, the UK, Poland and surprisingly, Bolivia.

However, Alchemy is a completely original piece
penned by Nolan, a Victorian Steampunk musical melodrama set in 1842 which has
all the essential ingredients for a rattling good yarn - adventure, love and
passion, betrayal and revenge, and the ever present quest for power.

Central to the plot is Professor Samuel King played by Nolan who sets off to find three
hidden artefacts left behind by alchemist, Thomas Anzeray. But the villain of the piece Lord Jagman
(Andy Sears),
who thinks King is dead, is also off in pursuit of the artefacts, firstly by
tricking mystery girl Amelia Darvas, played by Caamora Theatre Company star
Agnieszka Swita. After being double-crossed Amelia finds herself sentenced to a
public execution but is saved by King and his friends.

After that, it is a race against time between King and Jagman to get their hands on
the artefacts and perform a ritual to open the door between life and death.

The music is as dramatic as the plot but stays well within the confines of recognised
rock opera with lots of over the top performances, notably by Sears who revels
in his wicked, wicked ways. Just listen to The Ends Justifies The Means
to get a cut of his evil jib.

From the opening prologue, Nolan's compositions never let up in their grand guignol
style or give you chance to pause for breath. There are shades of The Phantom Of The Opera
at certain junctures but, overall, Alchemy has a magic all of its own.

Among the choicest tracks One For The Noose has
a stately severity about it with its sedate drum beats and restrained chorus
lines, and Nolan reveals himself a singer and actor of exceptional ability, especially on
King Explains and Quaternary Plan, the latter being a jolly romp.

Highgate is another chance for Sears to unleash his
devilry and Swita her assertiveness to the background of some wonderful lush
instrumentation, including a gypsy fiddle depicting some revelry as the Hellfire Club assembles in the cemetery.

The romantic duos between Swita and her beau William Gardelle, played by Red Jasper'sDavid Clifford, one of She's
cast members, who is also blessed with a fine theatrical voice, are particularly effective especially on
Sanctuary where there is real power and feeling in their vocal chemistry.

The cast also includes Damian Wilson and Tracy Hitchings
of Landmarq in small cameo roles, along with former IQ
singer Paul Menel and Nolan's Arena bandmate Paul Manzi.

It is one of those albums which demands close attention throughout and credit should go
to Nolan for unleashing his inner Lord Lloyd-Webber
for the composition and painstaking attention to detail which
has gone into the making of this enjoyable slice of Victorian hokum. Catch the
cast performing it live next month at Cheltenham Playhouse on September 5, 6
and 7 with an all-star cast. It should be quite an occasion!